New RV Owner - Newmar Dutchstar 38 1998

[LSepulveda]

Hi,
I'm a first time RV owner. I've owned a number of large boats but never an RV. Like other purchases, I've found that after what I thought were exhaustive questions of the dealer I'm still finding questions for which I can't find answers in the owners manuals etc.

1. My coach has large side lights hgh up forward and aft on each side but I can't locate a way of turning them on. Any Newmar owners out there have an answer?

2. I had all the fluids changed immediately after purchasing. I watched as they worked on it. The diesel generator located in the front has what looks like a oif filter that cannot seem to be reached without removing the engine. Obviously this can't be the case. Any one know how to acces the filter. There is a fuel filter closer to the front which is accessible.

Any advice and help will be appreciated.

By the way, my wife are camping in it as we speak in the Canyon RV park in Williams Arizona.

[ka6bud]

l. sepulveda The lights on the outside of the coach are security lights the switch is located in compartment overhead just inside the entry door where tv switch and others are located there should be three switches left side right side and elec. step. gen might be on slide and might not check rails frame. also look for relese control near top of gen compartment round knob i had 95 mountain aire current 2001 dutch star
Hope this well help
regards
Ka6bud Joe

[clubmed98]

hope you enjoy yours as much as I have mine..if you can't find filter and your gen is a gentech..PM me and I'll find the filter location and get back to you..if you are an fmca member and go to the bowling green rally this summer there will be an fmca newmar chapter rally before and an fmca spartan chassis rally after if you have a spartan chassis..welcome to the forum

[tmitchell]

I have a 2004 DSDP. On mine the passenger side security light switch is under the kitchen cabinet. The driver's side security light switch is in the cabinet on the right side of the front TV.
I have an Onan generator you access the oil filter through a drop down panel on the bottom.
Tom

[LSepulveda]

Joe,

Thanks so much. The security lights did the trick. When I asked the RV dealer what the security switches was for he said the RV probably had a security system at one time. He obviously didn't know. No problem, I now know what they are for thanks to you.

I'll check on the generator slode when I get back from this trip. I only have 110 hours on the gen set and I did at least change the oil.

Lou

["007"]

Welcome both LSepulveda and ka6bud to the Newmar forum and irv2.
Thanks to everyone for helping out this new member.
Enjoy the forum and do post often.

[RicksDP]

Let us know what you find out as I've got the '98 DSDP also. All fluids/filters were changed when I bought her but it's time to change the generator fluid and filter.
Thanks, Rick

[LSepulveda]

Good to meet you Rick, as we have the same RV. We can compare notes as we both learn.

Regarding the oil change, I am taking mine to a shop today for some minor tweaks. However, When speaking to the mechanic I told him about the Gen filter I he agreed with one of the replies on the Forum that the engine is likely on a slide. I will let you know what I learn after the work is done.

Here is a question for you. As you enter the coach their arefive flourecent tube lite fixtures on the ceiling. On mine, the first one, closer to the front is controlled by a wal switch next to the passenger. The next two I can't make work. I've checked the bulbs and they are working. The next one, number four is controlled by a wall switch as is the last.

My guess is that I have a wiring problem between the first to the second and third. What say you?

Lou

[GaryKD]

Hi Lou,
While I do not know your specific coach, if Newmar continues the basic concept of where switches are located, the ceiling light switch should be located in the kitchen area. Sometimes on the rear kitchen wall as one exits the kitchen toward the rear of the coach.

["007"]

Lou, also check the switch on light maybe turned off.

[LSepulveda]

Thanks guys. I've tried flipping the switch on the fixture itself, and removing the bulbs and used them in another fixture to be sure they work, and they do. The wall switch in the kitchen turns on one of the ceiling lights and may well be for the two fixtures that aren't lighting, but at thgis point the two don't come on no matter what I try. My only conclusion is that either the fixtures themselves are bad, which I doubt, or the feed wire from the one that does work to the next two in series is the problem.

I was hoping that Rick, who has the exact same coach I have could tell me which lights his kitchen wall switch controlled versus the wall switch by the passenger door.

Lou

["007"]

Looking at this picture I see switch near table and chairs for over head decorative light, one near entrance to bathroom and one for bullet lights over sink area.
This was a popular model in that year, I had the gas 3765 with large kitchen slide, wife couldn't reach back corner of slide behind stove.
If non of these work drop light fixture that works and check wiring from wire nuts that multiple to other lights they have been found loose from vibration at times. Check both black and white wire nuts.
If you find switch that does nothing may have loose wire off that switch.

[clubmed98]

re lights..front switch by door on my coach controls front 2 overhead lights..the rear 2 are controlled by switch on wall by door to john..with many floor plans and 2 chassis makers it is hard to compare the older units..re gen set slide, pull handle just below dash on to left side of drivers seat..like an old hood pull...that opens the front hood..slide release is on middle left fire wall, usually hidden by wiring harness.hope this helps

[ka6bud]

club med 98 I did not have any questions about light switches in 98 dutch star. I was answering requests from L sepulevda that was orignal post

l KA6BUD jOE